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Abstract:

A method and system for creating and navigating linear hypermedia
resource programs are disclosed. The system includes a distributed
hypermedia resource network having a plurality of hypermedia resources
residing on one or more remote information nodes. A common remote
information node is in communication with a subscriber station and the
remote information nodes in the distributed network. The common remote
information node contains at least one linear hypermedia resource program
consisting of pre-selected media elements from one or more hypermedia
resources linked with exclusive linear links, each media element in the
linear program having only one forward link to the next media element.
The method includes the steps of downloading and displaying a media
element in the linear program and responding to user commands to download
and display the next media element in the linear program.

Claims:

1. A method of presenting a linear program of audio elements, the method
comprising: selecting a first audio element; selecting a second audio
element; selecting a third audio element; associating the first audio
element, the second audio element and the third audio element in a
linearly linked fashion to produce the linear program of audio elements;
displaying a plurality of indicators, each of the plurality of indicators
representing a corresponding one of the first audio element, the second
audio element and the third audio element; displaying a forward link
indicator that selects a next program element of the linear program of
audio elements; and in response to a user selection of one of the
plurality of indicators, selecting the corresponding one of, the first
audio element, the second audio element and the third audio element;
wherein the first audio element, the second audio element and the third
audio element are stored on a server of the World Wide Web.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: displaying a backward link
indicator that selects a previous program element of the linear program
of audio elements.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising: displaying the linear
program of audio elements to a subscriber station at a user location over
the Internet.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of indicators includes at
least one of: text, icons and graphical depictions.

5. A method of presenting a linear program of audio elements, the method
comprising: associating a first audio element, a second audio element and
a third audio element in a linearly linked fashion to produce the linear
program of audio elements; displaying the linear program of audio
elements to a subscriber station at a user location over the Internet by
displaying a plurality of indicators, each of the plurality of indicators
representing a corresponding one of the first audio element, the second
audio element and the third audio element, wherein the plurality of
indicators includes at least one of: text, icons and graphical
depictions; in response to a user selection of one of the plurality of
indicators, selecting the corresponding one of, the first audio element,
the second audio element and the third audio element; displaying a
forward link indicator that selects a next program element of the linear
program of audio elements; and in response to a user selection of one of
the plurality of indicators, selecting the corresponding one of, the
first audio element, the second audio element and the third audio
element; wherein the first audio element, the second audio element and
the third audio element are stored on a server of the World Wide Web.

6. A method of presenting a linear program of audio elements, the method
comprising: selecting a first audio element; selecting a second audio
element; selecting a third audio element; associating the first audio
element, the second audio element and the third audio element in a
linearly linked fashion to produce the linear program of audio elements;
displaying a forward link indicator that selects a next program element
of the linear program of audio elements; and displaying a backward link
indicator that selects a previous program element of the linear program
of audio elements; wherein the first audio element, the second audio
element and the third audio element are stored on a server of the World
Wide Web.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising: displaying a plurality of
indicators, each of the plurality of indicators representing a
corresponding one of the first audio element, the second audio element
and the third audio element.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising: in response to a user
selection of one of the plurality of indicators, highlighting and
selecting the corresponding one of, the first audio element, the second
audio element and the third audio element.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising: sending the linear program
of audio elements to a subscriber station at a user location over the
Internet.

10. A method of presenting a linear program of audio elements, the method
comprising: associating a first audio element, a second audio element and
a third audio element in a linearly linked fashion to produce the linear
program of audio elements; displaying a plurality of indicators, each of
the plurality of indicators representing a corresponding one of the first
audio element, the second audio element and the third audio element,
wherein the plurality of indicators includes at least one of: text, icons
and graphical depictions; in response to a user selection of one of the
plurality of indicators, selecting the corresponding one of, the first
audio element, the second audio element and the third audio element; and
displaying a forward link indicator that selects a next program element
of a linear program of audio elements; wherein the first audio element,
the second audio element and the third audio element are stored on a
server of the World Wide Web.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising: in response to a user
selection of one of the plurality of indicators, highlighting the
corresponding one of, the first audio element, the second audio element
and the third audio element.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising: displaying a backward link
indicator that selects a previous program element of a linear program of
audio elements.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising: displaying the linear
program of audio elements to a subscriber station at a user location over
the Internet.

14. A method of presenting a linear program of video elements, the method
comprising: associating a first video element, a second video element and
a third video element in a linearly linked fashion to produce the linear
program of video elements; displaying a plurality of indicators, each of
the plurality of indicators representing a corresponding one of the first
video element, the second video element and the third video element,
wherein the plurality of indicators includes at least one of: text, icons
and graphical depictions; in response to a user selection of one of the
plurality of indicators, selecting a selected video element corresponding
to one of, the first video element, the second video element and the
third video element; and displaying the selected media element; wherein
the first video element, the second video element and the third video
element are stored on a server of the World Wide Web.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising: displaying a forward link
indicator that selects a next program element of a linear program of
video elements;

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising: in response to a user
selection of one of the plurality of indicators, highlighting the
corresponding one of, the first video element, the second video element
and the third video element.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising: displaying a backward link
indicator that selects a previous program element of a linear program of
video elements.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising: displaying the linear
program of video elements to a subscriber station at a user location over
the Internet.

Description:

CROSS REFERENCES TO PRIORITY APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present U.S. Utility patent application claims priority
pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §120, as a continuation, to the following U.S.
Utility patent application which is hereby incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety and made part of the present U.S. Utility
patent application for all purposes: [0002] 1. U.S. Utility application
Ser. No. 13/116,421, filed May 26, 2011, pending, claims priority
pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §120, as a continuation, to the following U.S.
Utility patent application which is hereby incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety and made part of the present U.S. Utility
patent application for all purposes: [0003] 2. U.S. Utility application
Ser. No. 12/426,428, filed Apr. 20, 2009, pending, claims priority
pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §120, as a continuation, to the following U.S.
Utility patent application which is hereby incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety and made part of the present U.S. Utility
patent application for all purposes: [0004] 3. U.S. Utility application
Ser. No. 11/784,305, filed Apr. 6, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,539,738,
claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §120, as a continuation, to
the following U.S. Utility patent application which is hereby
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and made part of the
present U.S. Utility patent application for all purposes: [0005] 4. U.S.
Utility application Ser. No. 10/884,187, filed Jul. 1, 2004, now U.S.
Pat. No. 7,216,155, claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §120, as a
continuation, to the following U.S. Utility patent application which is
hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and made part of
the present U.S. Utility patent application for all purposes: [0006] 5.
U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 09/964,104, filed Sep. 26, 2001, now
U.S. Pat. No. 6,779,026, claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §120,
as a continuation, to the following U.S. Utility patent application which
is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and made part
of the present U.S. Utility patent application for all purposes:

[0007] 6. U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 09/680,899, filed Oct. 6,
2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,330,596, claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C.
§120, as a continuation, to the following U.S. Utility patent
application which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety and made part of the present U.S. Utility patent application for
all purposes: [0008] 7. U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 09/167,514,
filed Oct. 6, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The World Wide Web (the "Web") provides an alternative source of
information for consumers and business users. Some users also view the
Web as a source of entertainment. Surfing the Web, cybercafes, etc.
appeal to the sophisticated Web user as a way of having a good time.

[0010] Many Americans raised in the television age view entertainment as a
serial event. Specifically, generations of viewers have experienced
television shows, movies, radio programs, and concerts which all proceed
linearly from a beginning to an end. Some potential Web users of this
generation view surfing the Web as intimidating from perhaps two
respects: (1) the use of technology; and (2) the increasingly
unorganized, virtually unlimited number of choices that are available.
The Web is not inherently a linear entertainment medium. A Web user may
typically go directly from any given site to a large number of other
sites. At best, some websites provide links to similar sites, however
they typically do not offer more than a cursory indication of what the
linked sites contain.

[0011] In addition, even sophisticated Web users are often frustrated by
the amount of useless, undesirable material that appears on the Web.
Take, for example, a user who wishes to look at pictures of classic
automobiles. A search on classic automobiles may yield 10,000 hits. A
website-by-website search for interesting material may yield many sites
that do not meet the user's expectations as to the content, properties or
quality. Some sites may be a single page that prompts a user to order a
catalog. Other sites may have text but no pictures.

[0012] Accordingly, there is a need for creating entertaining Web programs
that appeal to a wide cross section of potential viewers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system for use in creating and navigating
a linear hypermedia resource program according to a preferred embodiment.

[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates hypermedia resources that may reside on
information nodes in the distributed hypermedia network of FIG. 1.

[0015] FIG. 3 diagrammatically illustrates a linear hypermedia resource
program and the selected base media elements in each of the desired
hypermedia resources of the hypermedia resource data network.

[0016]FIG. 4 illustrates a user interface for use in navigating a
hypermedia resource program in accordance with one embodiment of the
present invention.

[0017] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a method for navigating a linear
hypermedia resource program.

[0018] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating an alternative method for
navigating a linear hypermedia resource program in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention.

[0019]FIG. 7 illustrates a user interface for prompting a user for an
experience level in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention.

[0020] FIG. 8 illustrates a method of generating a linear hypermedia
resource program utilizing the system of FIG. 1 in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 15 illustrates an alternative embodiment for of a method for
creating a linear hypermedia resource program.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] The present invention addresses the need for creating and
navigating entertaining Web programs that filter out unwanted information
and present desired information in a series of linearly linked websites.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a user starts with the first
site and in a guided tour fashion, when finished, is directed exclusively
to the second site. When done with the second site, the user is directed
exclusively to the next site, etc. The progression of sites defines a
programmed linear hypermedia resource path that is geared towards the
entertainment of the user. Users may also implement the system and method
described in more detail below for educational purposes or as a research
tool.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 1, a system 10 for use in navigating and
generating a linear hypermedia resource program is shown. The system 10
includes a distributed hypermedia data network 12 having a plurality of
information nodes 14 and a common remote information node 16 all in
communication with each other. A subscriber station 18 is in
communication with the common remote information node 16 over a
communication line. In one embodiment, the distributed hypermedia data
network 12 may be the Web where the information nodes and common remote
information node 14, 16 are servers, memory devices, personal computers,
or the like that are capable of storing, processing, and exchanging data
with other information nodes. The subscriber station 18 may be a personal
computer or other device having capability of communicating with the
common remote information node 16 and presenting audio, visual, or
tactile information received from the common remote information node 16.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 2, each information node may contain a plurality
of hypermedia resources 20. Each hypermedia resource 20 contains a
plurality of individual media elements 22, including a base media element
24, that are associated by an indexed tree 21. In one embodiment, each
hypermedia resource 20 may be a website on the Web. The base media
element 24 can comprise a selected Web page of the website that serves as
a logical entry point to the website. The plurality of other media
elements 22 can include the additional pages of the website along with
other media that may include audio and video clips and, optionally,
tactile records that are convertible to tactile information by means of a
user interface device that includes tactile or force feedback. Each of
the information nodes 14 in the distributed hypermedia data network 12
may contain one or more hypermedia resources 20.

[0031] Unlike a typical search result from an Internet search engine on
the Web, a linear hypermedia resource program includes a selected group
of media elements that are associated by a series of exclusive forward
and backward links that are, in one embodiment, accessible at all times
as the hypermedia resources are browsed. FIG. 3 pictorially represents an
embodiment of a preferred linear hypermedia resource program in the
context of the media element or elements in hypermedia resources
connected by the linear hypermedia resource program 23. As shown in FIG.
3, a linear program may include a selected base media element from each
of a number of hypermedia resources of interest. Each base media element
24 is placed in a particular program element 25 in the linear hypermedia
resource program 23 such that the program will move the user between
hypermedia resources in a predetermined manner along an exclusive chain
of linear links 27, each selected base media element having one exclusive
forward link and one exclusive backward link. Each program element 25
maybe a media element 22 from a hypermedia resource 20. In one
embodiment, the program element 25 maybe the universal resource locator
(URL) for each selected media element 24. In an alternative embodiment,
each program element 25 may be the entire content of a base media element
24.

[0032] Preferably, the program elements 25 of a linear hypermedia resource
program 23 are stored in the common remote information node 16 controlled
by the internet service provider used by a subscriber at a subscriber
station 18 (FIG. 1). To accelerate the accessibility of each program
element in a linear hypermedia resource program, each program element is
preferably fully cached in the common remote information node so that all
the information of the media element comprising each program element is
retrieved prior to executing the linear hypermedia resource program. In
this manner, variations in communication speeds between the common remote
information node 16 and the information nodes 14 containing selective
hypermedia resources are minimized. As mentioned above, each media
element making up a program element may contain textual, visual, audio
and tactile information. The program elements 27 of the linear hypermedia
resource program may each come from a different hypermedia resource, the
same hypermedia resource, or a combination of the two.

[0033]FIG. 4 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a user interface
operable by a user at a subscriber station 18 to view a linear hypermedia
resource program. Preferably the user interface 28 comprises a collection
of areas 30, 32, 34 that each provide a user with separate functionality.
A map area 30 displays information representative of media elements in
the linear program for all or a portion of the media elements 22 in the
order arranged in the linear hypermedia resource program. This
information representative of the media elements that make up the program
elements of the linear program may be text, icons, graphical depictions
or other indicators capable of conveying the subject of the represented
media element. The map area 30 may display the entire linear path
comprised of all the elements in the linear program or simply a linear
segment 31 of the entire linear path. A display area 32 shows the
contents of a selected media element in the linearly linked chain of the
hypermedia resource program. A command area 34 preferably contains
backward and forward directional buttons 36 that allow a user to send
signals to the common remote information node to change the media element
displayed in the display area 32 to a subsequent or previous media
element in the linear hypermedia resource program as shown in the map
area 30. In one embodiment of the present invention, any or all of the
areas 30, 32 and 34 are implemented using Web frames. Dynamic pages that
utilize templates and tables are alternative implementations of the areas
30, 32 and 34 described above.

[0034] Utilizing the system of FIGS. 1-2 and 4, methods for navigating and
creating a linear hypermedia resource program are described below.
Referring to FIG. 5, one preferred embodiment of a method of navigating a
linear hypermedia resource program is shown. A user may download and
display a first base media element in the linear hypermedia resource
program (at step 38). In one embodiment, the contents of each program
element of the linear hypermedia resource program are cached in memory at
the common remote information node. The system, via the user interface
28, responds to additional user commands to download and display other
media elements of the first hypermedia resource (at step 40). Although
the entire hypermedia resource from which one or more media elements were
preselected as program elements may also be cached at the common remote
information node 16, the media elements that do not make up the linear
hypermedia resource program are preferably accessed using links to the
respective remote information node containing the hypermedia resource.

[0035] A forward direction button 36 is displayed to the user on the
display device of the subscriber station 18 and the subscriber station
receives a first signal in response to an action of the user that
indicates an activation of the forward link button (at steps 42, 44). If
a signal is received indicating that the user has selected the forward
directional button, a second base media element is downloaded and
provided to the subscriber station (at step 46). As with the first
hypermedia resource, the user may download and display selected media
elements from the second hypermedia resource until satisfied (at step
48). The steps of responding to the user command to display a base media
element of a hypermedia in a linear hypermedia resource program and, in
response to subsequent commands of a user, to download and display other
media elements from that hypermedia resource may be repeated many times.
In this fashion, the user can traverse all of the program elements of the
linear hypermedia resource program including all of the base media
elements and any desired media elements of each hypermedia resource.

[0036] By way of an example for implementing the method described above
and shown in FIG. 5, consider a linear hypermedia resource program
directed to hypermedia resources on the Internet related to a television
celebrity. In this example, the linear hypermedia resource program 23 is
an Internet Web path implemented by a internet service provider at a
common remote information node 16. The user starts on the Web path at the
first website, for example, a website showing a type of automobile driven
by the celebrity along with specifications and prices. The presentation
of the website is within the display area 32 of the user interface 28.
Outside the display area 32, a map area 30 showing other sites along the
celebrity Web path is displayed and identifies the current site. In one
embodiment of the present invention, a map of the entire linear path is
presented. In an alternative embodiment, a selected linear segment 31 of
the map is shown. In this fashion, the user (by means of map zoom-in and
zoom-out buttons not shown) can select a portion of the map of selected
size to view by zooming into a particular site and reviewing it with more
detail or zooming out and reviewing the map with more sites but with
optionally less detail being displayed per site. In a further
alternative, a user, by means of highlighting and selecting a particular
program element from the map area 30, can selectively skip forward or
backward to a particular program element and its corresponding base media
element.

[0037] The user can activate the forward direction button 36 to go to a
second website on the tour. The second website may display subject matter
relevant to the real life of, or a movie character portrayal by, the
celebrity. If, for example, the celebrity was known to smoke cigars, a
cigar store website having a variety of cigars for sale via mail order
can be displayed. As the user progresses through the linear program, the
user may come across a website having little appeal to the user and so
the user may simply hit the forward direction button 36 to proceed along
to the next in the serially linked series of websites. In addition, a
skip next button (not shown) can likewise allow a user to skip the next
program element in the linear program 23 and proceed directly to the
program element after the next program element. The remaining program
elements 25 in the linear program 23 can include website pages for
Broadway plays the celebrity acted in, vacations in exotic locations
associated with the celebrity, pictures of the celebrity in favorite
roles, and so on.

[0038] It should be noted that, in one embodiment of the present invention
the user is free to engage hyperlinks that are present in each hypermedia
resource. This allows the user to browse any of the individual hypermedia
elements of the hypermedia resource as well as other linked hypermedia
resources that may not be on the linear path. In this embodiment, the
activation of the forward or back buttons directs the user to the next or
previous hypermedia resource, respectively, and therefore allows the user
to return to the path provided by the linear program 23.

[0039] FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the method illustrated in
FIG. 5. In this embodiment, the common remote information node 16
solicits the user for an experience level. The user interface 28
preferably contains a user experience level screen 50 that inquires as to
a user's experience level in browsing hypermedia resources such as the
Web. The experience level screen 50 provides an experience level menu
having multiple experience level indicators 52 (see FIG. 7). In the
embodiment of FIG. 6, the system displays the experience level menu and
receives a desired experience level instruction from the user (at steps
54, 56). Upon receipt of the selected experience level, the common remote
information node modifies the set of available commands to accord with
the desired experience level (at step 58).

[0040] In one embodiment, selection of a beginner experience level
disables all links appearing on media elements in the linear hypermedia
resource program. This feature discourages users from leaving the path
defined by the program and becoming lost in cyberspace. In an alternative
embodiment, the step of modifying the set of available commands may
include disabling Web links between hypermedia resources 20 and only
allowing a user to peruse media elements 22 within a selected hypermedia
resource 20 until the next hypermedia resource 20 in the linear
hypermedia resource program is selected through the forward or back
direction buttons 36 in the user interface 28.

[0041] After selecting the experience level and modifying the set of
available commands, the method proceeds in much the same way as described
in FIG. 5. The system downloads and displays a first base media element
(at step 60) and downloads and displays selected media elements from the
first hypermedia resource per user commands (at step 62). The node 16
displays the forward and back buttons 36 (at step 64) and displays the
linear program map 30 on the user interface 28 (at step 66). The node 16
waits to receive a next signal from the user (at step 68) and displays
the second base media element of the second hypermedia resource in a
linear hypermedia program if a first signal is received (at step 70). The
common remote information node 16 will then download and display selected
media elements from the second hypermedia resource as directed by user
commands received at the user interface (at step 72). The user then may
decide to use the back button to send the signal to the system that
returns to the previous hypermedia resource (at step 74). Alternatively,
if after displaying the first base media elements of the first hypermedia
resource the user selects an alternative command such as by selecting a
particular program element from the map area 30, the system recognizes
that command and downloads and displays the base media element that
corresponds to the selected program element (at steps 76, 78). The system
will subsequently download and display any selected hypermedia resources
chosen by the user (at step 80).

[0042] While FIG. 6 describes the operation of the present invention in
the context of one embodiment including a first and second hypermedia
resource, one of ordinary skill in the art, based on the teachings
herein, will recognize that this method will similarly apply to a linear
program 23 of arbitrary length. Further, while the step of displaying the
linear program map is shown as a discrete step, the display of the
program map can persist during the operation of the method described
above and can be updated after each new program element is selected for
displaying the user's position in the linear program. In addition, the
back and forward command buttons can likewise be persistently displayed
during the operation of the program.

[0043] According to another aspect of the invention, in one embodiment a
user at a subscriber station 18 may utilize software at the common remote
information node 16 to generate a linear hypermedia resource program. As
shown in FIG. 8, a user may be browsing a distributed hypermedia data
network, such as the Web, and simply select a first base media element of
a desired hypermedia resource (at step 82) and then proceed to select a
base media element for a subsequent hypermedia resource (at step 84). The
progression of selecting base elements for desired hypermedia resources
may continue until the user has accumulated a desired number of base
media elements. At the conclusion of selecting individual base media
elements, the user is left with a sequence of exclusively linked
hypermedia resources that may be saved for future perusal. Thus, the
linear hypermedia resource program provides advantages over standard
bookmark functions available on Internet Web browsers because an entire
sequence of websites/Web pages having an exclusive linear path may be
saved. Additionally, the entire content of each media element (such as a
Web page) selected may be cached in a memory at the common remote
information node operated by the internet service provider (ISP) to
accelerate later retrieval of information.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 9, an alternative embodiment of the method shown
in FIG. 8 includes the ability to selectively place desired media
elements in desired positions in the linear hypermedia program. Referring
to FIGS. 9 and 10, a user may select the first base media element (at
step 86) and then assign the first base media element to a first program
element in the linear hypermedia program (at step 88). A second base
media element may then be selected and assigned to a second program
element of the linear hypermedia program (at steps 90, 92).
Alternatively, a preferred embodiment allows the user to select a first
base media element and provide an editing command to the system that
assigns the first base media element to a selected program element
position (at steps 94, 96). A later base media element can be selected
and the system will receive a command to assign this later selected base
media element to another selected program element position that may
precede or follow the previously selected base media element in the
linear hypermedia resource program 23 (at steps 98, 100).

[0045] FIG. 11 shows another embodiment of a method for generating a
linear hypermedia resource program. Rather than manually allowing a user
to select media elements for inclusion in the linear program elements of
the linear hypermedia resource program, a user may communicate search
criteria to a linear hypermedia program service at a remote location. In
one embodiment of the present invention, such as the celebrity
application described above, Web paths may be created by a professional
director from pre-existing or newly created websites or a combination of
both. In an alternative embodiment, the Web paths may be created by an
intelligent agent that operates independently of the user and responds to
the user's suggested topics, likes and dislikes, as well as user
preferences concerning content, properties and quality of websites. This
service may be offered by the ISP at the common remote information node
16.

[0046] When the search criteria are received at the node 16, the
professional director or intelligent agent may evaluate media elements to
select and organize, in an exclusive linearly linked fashion, highly
relevant media elements satisfying the user's search criteria (at steps
102-108). For example, a user interested in shopping for furniture on the
Web specifies the types of furniture in which he or she is interested
(e.g., Chippendale breakfront mahogany china cabinets), and the type of
websites desired (e.g., furniture stores with websites that show JPEG or
MPEG images of the furniture with prices for each piece). Examples of
other suitable file formats are any of a number of known graphics, video,
audio and tactile data formats. Preferably, the user has the appropriate
hardware and software at the subscriber station to interpret the
electronic media element content into the video, audio, or tactile
domain. A user also preferably designates file information content
choices in the search criteria. File information content may be used to
filter for Web pages that contain price listings or have the ability to
place secure product orders via credit card. Many other file criteria may
be used to select appropriate media elements. For example, a user can
also specify that information must be presented in a certain language,
that suitable websites must have been updated within a predetermined
period, and so on.

[0047] The user may optionally specify the time frame for generating a
desired linear hypermedia resource program. For example, the user may
request that the linear hypermedia resource program be ready by Friday
night that week. The intelligent agent or professional director works
off-line of the user to create a series of links that define a desirable
path through a series of websites that meet the user's criteria. Once
complete, the linear hypermedia resource program (in this example a
serial path of website pages from one or more websites) is delivered to
the user by HTTP or email. The common remote information node may
automatically notify the user that the program is ready or may wait for
the user to retrieve it.

[0048] Internet service providers, or other linear hypermedia program
sources offering users custom-made linear hypermedia resource programs,
may offer linear hypermedia resource programs of different lengths and
quality. In order to accommodate different needs and budgets, a method
for generating a desired linear hypermedia resource program and
accounting for billing information is useful. As FIG. 12 illustrates, a
user at a subscriber station 18 initially sends a search request with
specific search criteria to the common remote information node operated
by the ISP (at step 110). The search criteria preferably include the time
frame in which the user desires to receive the linear hypermedia program.
A sliding scale of cost versus time, in the form of an algorithm or table
stored in memory at the common remote information node, may then be
applied to determine the final cost of generating the linear hypermedia
resource program (at step 112). The media elements available in the
distributed hypermedia data network are then analyzed in light of the
search criteria (at step 114).

[0049] As described above, the step of evaluating the media elements may
be done with an intelligent agent such as a search engine with artificial
intelligence capabilities, or may be done manually by personnel at the
Internet service provider. Base media elements are then selected from the
pool of relevant hypermedia resources and then assigned to program
element positions in the linear hypermedia resource program (at step
116). The resulting linear hypermedia resource program is then
transmitted from the common remote information node to the subscriber
station (at step 118) and a billing record is also generated at the
common remote information node of the Internet service provider in
accordance with the time frame requested and scope of the search (at
steps 120). Factors such as processor time, memory requirement for the
linear program, or storage period at a server such as the common remote
information node may also be incorporated into the billing record.

[0050] FIGS. 13-15 provide a pictorial representation of a linear program,
browsing a linear program, and the steps of creating a linear program.
FIG. 13 best illustrates browsing the linear program depicted in FIG. 3.
As indicated by link selection arrows 122, a user is allowed to browse
media elements, other than the base media element stored in the linear
program, in a hypermedia resource using existing Web browser type
technology. Although a user may be viewing a media element other than the
initial base media elements of the first type of media resource, the
forward and backward selection buttons of the user interface will
automatically invoke the exclusive forward or backward link 27 to
transport the user to the base media element 24 of the second selected
hypermedia resource or back to the base media element of the previous
hypermedia resource. Assuming the common remote information node 16
received the command to move forward to the second hypermedia resource,
the user again has the freedom to browse media elements starting with the
base media element in the second hypermedia resource. Again, regardless
of the media element presently being viewed in the second hypermedia
resource, selecting the forward or back button in the user interface will
only allow the user to move to the base element of the prior hypermedia
resource or of any subsequent hypermedia resource in the order previously
assigned in the linear hypermedia resource program.

[0051] Different versions of a method for creating a linear hypermedia
resource program are pictorially illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15. FIG. 14
illustrates the ability to select any one of a number of media elements
from desired media resources and add the selected media elements to a
linear hypermedia resource program. A first media element may be selected
from a hypermedia resource and then a user may use a hyper link to jump
to a second hypermedia resource, select a media element from the second
hypermedia resource, and then the user may decide to implement a search
engine to search the Web and jump to an unrelated third hypermedia
resource. At the third hypermedia resource, the user can select any of
the media elements to add to the linear hypermedia resource program.
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 15, the user may elect to add every media
element, in the sequence encountered while browsing, to a linear
hypermedia resource program.

[0052] The various methods described herein, in a preferred embodiment,
are intended for operation as software programs running on a computer
processor. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other
hardware implementations such as application specific integrated
circuits, programmable logic arrays and other hardware devices can
likewise be constructed to implement the methods described herein. It
should also be noted that the various methods of the present invention
can be implemented in software, in one of a variety of known computer
languages, and stored on a tangible storage medium such as a magnetic or
optical disk, read-only memory or random access memory and be produced as
an article of manufacture.

[0053] As has been described above, a system and method for navigating and
creating linear hypermedia resource programs are provided. The system and
method provide a serial entertainment medium for internet Web users of
all experience levels. A common remote information node such as a server
operated by an internet service provider may generate, and store the
contents of, a linear hypermedia resource program. A user can access the
program through a user interface from a subscriber terminal. The program,
which may consist of Web pages from one or more websites, is preferably
traversed linearly with the user interface. Depending on a selected skill
level, various links may be disabled to better guide a user along the
predetermined linear path. The method also describes selecting media
elements to include and editing their placement in the linear program. As
will be recognized by those skilled in the art, the type of computers and
communications devices used may be any one of a number of commonly
available computers and communications devices. The communications
networks for interconnecting hypermedia resources in the distributed
hypermedia resource network may be internet communications networks or
other types of networks.

[0054] It is intended that the foregoing detailed description be regarded
as illustrative rather than limiting, and that it be understood that the
following claims, including all equivalents, are intended to define the
scope of the invention.

Patent applications by Barry James Sullivan, Long Grove, IL US

Patent applications by Bruce Edward Stuckman, Austin, TX US

Patent applications by James Richard Morse, Plainfield, IL US

Patent applications by Jordan Howard Light, Chicago, IL US

Patent applications by Kent E. Genin, Chicago, IL US

Patent applications by Richard Omanson, Naperville, IL US

Patent applications by Robert Wesley Bossemeyer, Jr., St. Charles, IL US

Patent applications by Wayne Robert Heinmiller, Elgin, IL US

Patent applications by TQ ALPHA, LLC

Patent applications in class On screen video or audio system interface

Patent applications in all subclasses On screen video or audio system interface